Chapter Ten
"You know, what, Olivia."Cyrene said. It was the morning of her return. She had returned late lastnight. Now that breakfast was over they had time to talk before the kids woke up.
"What?" Xena asked as they decorated the inn for Christmas. Most of her men were roaming the village. They had perfect manners as she gave them lessons on etiquette. Or rather she made someone else. They kept themselves shaved, clean, and did not misbehave towards a lady. They built homes for themselves. Since there were so many men. Each helped the other and finished quickly before winter was to set in. Most men who were not married lived in a place together. A thousand of her men were escorting families to Amphipolis.
"You have a good heart whether you admit it or not." Cyrene said.
"How so?" Xena asked.
"Well you took in five children who had no home."Cyrene said.
"You know I can't stand to see something happen when it doesn't have to. Like kids not having a home when they could be in an orphanage or someone could adopt them." Xena said."Its annoying."
"I know, but you could have made someone else adopt them. Besides what about how you changed the way the men treat women?" Cyrene asked."They even go fishing for me, so that everyone including the village can eat."
"I ordered them to do so." Xena said."They need to work for their food."
"I don't care what you say you have a kind heart." Cyrene said as Xena hung the mistletoe.
"Perhaps." Xena said."Did you do all of the shopping?"
"Yep, I got everything you asked and than some." Cyrene said. Xena nodded. She had specifically asked her mother to do some shopping for her. What better way to gain your men's loyalty than to get them each a present. Would have cost her a fortune, but she had a personal blacksmith. It only cost her to get presents for her kids.
"Mommy." Xenan said. She picked him up and kissed him.
"Hey little man." Xena said. "You sleep well?" He said nothing as he layed his head on her shoulder.
"He's missed you." Cyrene said."Everynight he cries for you."
"I've missed him too." Xena said."But it was for the best I sent them here."
"I agree." Cyrene said."Olivia, I'm glad you chose to send them to me."
"Yes, well no matter what I do I can trust you'll take care of my kids." Cyrene noticed how her daughter said my kids instead of just referring to Xenan now. She knew everyone else was just her kid to her, but Xenan had her heart. But she wondered about Solan. He looked so much like her, but she'd have to have been nine when she had him. And she knew that didn't happen. They'd still been close than.
"Mother!" exclaimed Sophia. She had taken to calling her that. They all had following Xenan's example. Xena hugged her. Solan walked in with Summer in tow. She gave them a hug.
"Where's Mia?" Xena asked.
"Getting Stevie." Solan said. Soon Mia came out. She hugged her. She held Stevie who was now nine months and thriving. They were all healthy and plump from her mother's cooking. He had brown hair and eyes just like his sisters. Mia had grey eyes like on a stormy day and dirty blond hair. Where Solan had her blue eyes and blond hair. That creeped her out. Xenan of course had blue eyes like herself, and black hair like Borias.
"Well now that you guys are up let's get some breakfast." Cyrene said. They nodded. She made them breakfast. Xena fed Stevie and Xenan. She spent the day with them. She showed them all the good places to play. Well the ones they hadn't found. After a week of fun and games she got them training again.
"When can I have my own bow and arrows?" Solan asked as he used hers.
"One day." Xena said.
"Is that today?" Solan asked.
"Take aim and fix your stance." Xena ordered. Solan did as he was told. She ended up positioning his legs correctly. She sighed. Xenan watched Solan, Mia, Sophia, and Summer practice archery. She sent him inside with Stevie and her mother when they moved on to hand to hand combat. They trained hard. She sent them on a run around the village. After the run she let them go play. While they were running she played with Xenan and Stevie before going to train her men far from the eye of the village.
"We'll take the kingdoms by seige." Draco said."And we can make a spectical of the killing of the royals. Especially the children who are their hope."
"We don't kill children in this army Draco." Xena said."And I swear if I get one more report of your men harrassing anyone in the village I'll kill them on the spot."
"Why not?" Draco asked ignoring her last comment.
"Because without children the world does not stay populated and if it doesn't stay populated who the hell do we have to terrorize. No one that's who. This way our legacy will live on for years to come. And we'll actually have an empire with somebody to rule over in." Draco remained silent thinking.
"I guess this makes sense." Draco said.
"It does." Xena said mapping key points where she could put a regiment in the aid to take over whole kingdoms. She put numbers by the castles to say exactly how long a seige would take. some would take a little over two weeks and some less depending on the region. She calculated when would be the best time to send her children away.
"By the way is this where you decided your capitol was going to be?" Draco asked."Before we merged that is."
"Yes, actually. You gotta a problem with that?" Xena asked menacingly. She gave him a cold stare.
"No, it's a good place. Full of fish, good fields, and sheep." Draco said. Xena looked down again.
"My capitol is coming a long nicely don't ya think. More houses are being built and whole families are moving here. I'm sure people who know all kinds of trades will arrive. That'll bring trade into the village. And the trade has increased between the villages I've conquered. So I expect more money will come into the village. I've just sent word that it is to be the central trade center in my Kingdom."
"That'll inspire more thieves." said Draco.
"I know, so I've recruited villagers from each village that wouldn't particularly last long in a war or seige, but is most likely to survive while fighting bandits. They are patrol my rodes halfway. A team of four on each rode. There are three teams. I've set up sentry posts here, here, and here." Xena didn't reveal all the sentry posts."Two to each post. That's from the men here. There's also one man in each village, I think would make a great leader that organize the village's militia."
"You've got this all planned out." Draco said.
"Yes." Xena said.
"So is this actually done yet or is this just you thinking."
"Just me thinking." Xena said."If they actually like me as well as fear me they're less likely to betray me."
"Hmmm..."Draco said. He knew it would be a little harder to kill Xena once they had conquered Greece.
"Right, so this won't put a dent in our army any, because we've got new recruits. There's always a headstrong boy that thinks he has what it takes." Xena said."Those headstrong boys will go through extensive training. They won't be joining the main army to soon."
"Four months should do it."Draco said.
"Draco, we want to win the damn war not get picked off like we're some damn dogs." Xena said angerily."A year should be sufficient if they work hard. If they aren't than I had better not see them in my army. I'll send them right back." Zacharous entered at that moment. He saluted her.
"What is it?" Xena asked.
"The families have arrived, and the men request permission to help them settle in." Zacharous said.
"No." Draco said.
"Tell them to report back here after they've shown their families where to go. We have to train now. They can have the day off tomorrow after they've done their jobs. Oh and tell the men whatever their trade was before they joined my army I want to know. And I want to know by tomorrow at lunch." Zacharous nodded and saluted her before leaving. Draco grabbed her arm tightly, and spun her to face him.
"You'll do well to stop underminding my authority." Draco said.
"No, you'll do well, because your time is running out." Xena said.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Draco asked.
"That everybody dies at some point in their life." Xena said walking out of the tent to go inspect the new recruits. Draco came up behind her. He knew he need to keep her from trying to kill him. Women were simple, love would make them agree to anything. Love is blind after all. She turned and he gave her his most sexiest smile.
"What do you want now?" Xena asked watching him suspiciously.
"To proclaim my love to you." Draco said. Xena looked at him disgustedly.
"I'm sure." Xena said sarcastically as she turned back around. She crossed her arms and watched the new men again. They were horrible. Though this was only the first day. Alexandros would have to do a better job of training them. He looked so discouraged at the little skill they had to begin with. Anyone would. They were pathetic tripping over their boots and other boots.
"I'm serious." Draco said as Xena turned and pushed pass him. She watched her men salute her on their way into the village. Well it was more of a town now that so many more people were making it their home. Smart people actually moved to what would be the capitol. It was more likely to be protected in an event that it came under attack. Meaning they were more likely to get away and survive.
"Draco get out of my sight." Xena said as Zacharous approached her. He saluted her, and she acknowledged his presence. He stood at attention waiting for them to finish.
"Whatever you say my love." Draco said. He grabbed her hand and was about to kiss it, but she took it away.
"Don't even think about it." Xena said. Draco gave her a smile again. He was only leaving to figure out a way to get her to believe him and than love him. Oh this plan would be sweet. He walked away glancing back at her every now and than. She was watching him. This was a good sign maybe depending on if she was thinking he was faking it, which he was or if she believed him and was easier than she was letting on.
"May I give you a word of advice?" Zacharous asked.
"I'm listening." Xena said.
"Don't go for it." Zacharous said."If anything he's just trying to get under your battle dress or he's trying to gain more of your trust. And if that happens..."
"I'll never see it coming when he tries to kill me. But no worries I'll kill him first." Zacharous nodded."So what did you have to report?"
"Yea, what are we to do with all the food?" Zacharous asked.
"Store it somewhere in the village. Food that'll spoil distribute it out." Xena said."Check it for poison. Especially in the wine." Zacharous nodded. Zacharous sent another soldier to do the job for him. He talked with Xena about the new recruits.
"We'll need to aquire more tents. The men are doubling like crazy." Zacharous said.
"How many men in a tent?" Xena asked.
"Ten." Zacharous said.
"Knock it down to five. They get to pick who they sleep with in the tent. That way the men get a long and we won't have any conflicts. Buy as many more tents as we'll need." Xena said.
"When do we start conquering again?" Zacharous asked as Alexandros came up to them. He saluted her
"When winter has passed. I've learned it's not good to fight in winter. Amphipolis is well stocked to feed the entire village. So are the other villages, correct?"
"Yes, I sent a messenger out just as you asked." Alexandros said."And his reply was that they were well off even though we've taken some of their crops."
"Are you sure he wasn't lying?" Xena asked fixing him with a piercing gaze.
"Possitive, I threatened certain torture. I even had two big men who are naturally sadists." Alexandros said. Xena nodded and stopped scaring him. He scared to easily for her sometimes. But he still stood his ground, which made up for it.
"Good, you're dismissed." Xena said.
"Orders?" Alexandros asked.
"Well go guard my kids of course." Xena said."Let's return to the village. Go saddle Argo." A servant boy of no more than fourteen or fifteen ran to do what she said. Zacharous and Alexandros horses were saddled too, but after Xena's.
"My love where are you off too?" Draco asked.
"The village don't follow." Xena said. She commanded Argo to gallop with a specific whistle. Zacharous and Alexandros followed. At the tavern it was filled to the brim with men looking for their families.